The Tampa Bay Lightning’s six game homestand didn’t get off to a good start as the Winnipeg Jets scored two third period goals in 2:44 to beat the Bolts 2-1 at Amalie Arena tonight. The lack of offense spoiled a tremendous performance by rookie goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy who stopped 27 of 29 shots.
The first period saw Winnipeg come out flying as a desperate team should. The Bolts weathered the early storm and the teams traded chances but the period ended with no scoring. The line of Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson and Vladislav Namestnikov had the best scoring chances but Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec was up to the task.
Shots in the period were 7-6 in favor of Tampa Bay and shot attempts were even at 15.
After a back and forth start to a scoreless second period that saw the Lightning kill off two penalties, the Jets dominated the puck but couldn’t get one by goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy who stood on his head. The 20 year old Lightning rookie stopped all 15 shots fired at him by the Jets in the period.
It was a terrible period for the Lightning as they continuously gave the puck away in their own zone and were outshot 15-6. Shot attempts were dominated by the Jets 22-9.
At 4:13 of the third period Nikita Kucherov beat Pavelec high on the glove side after a great drop pass by the speedy Jonathan Drouin. Matt Carle also assisted on Kucherov’s 26th of the year in his first game in two months.
With twelve minutes to go in the third period, Kucherov got a five minute boarding penalty and a game misconduct. Tyler Johnson was given a roughing minor and Winnipeg’s Jacob Trouba was assessed a minor penalty resulting in a Winnipeg five minute power play.
The Jets Drew Stafford tied the game on that power play at the 10:00 mark from Lee Stempniak and Jiri Tlusty.
Then at 12:44 Blake Wheeler picked off a Victor Hedman pass and beat Vasilevskiy stick side to for the game winner. For Wheeler it was his 20th of the season.
The Bolts were outshot in the third period 7-4. Shots on goal for the game were Winnipeg 29 and Tampa Bay 16.
Cedric Paquette (upper body), Braydon Coburn (lower body, Ondrej Palat (lower body) and Nikita Nesterov (healthy) were the scratches.
The Lightning will host the Montreal Canadiens Monday night.
(Feature Photograph/Getty Images)
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